Help! California to South Carolina in a week

[Gina Smith]

We're traveling from San Diego back home to Charleston, South Carolina. We've never been out West before and wanted to know what would be the most scenic route and what would be must-sees along the way i.e. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, cool historical spots, awesome cities, night life, museums etc. We've got a week. Mapquest suggests I-20 but a friend says I-40 is more scenic. Thoughts? Thanks!

[Robert Schaller]

My choice of routes would be I-40. I'd use I-8 to US95 at Yuma, north to I-10, then east a few miles to US60 -- follow that to Wickenburg and then north a few miles to pick up SR89. Follow SR89 to Prescott, Jerome, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff (very scenic areas, all). At Flagstaff, you join with I-40. Grand Canyon is a short 70 mile trip north from Flagstaff on US180 and SR64. You can follow SR64 all the way out of Grand Canyon Natl Park to Cameron, and back to Flagstaff and I-40 on US89.

Cool Historical stuff? There are two great museums on US180 in north Flagstaff -- the Northern Arizona Museum of Natural History, and there is a Arizona Historical Society museum also nearby. The first will ALSO show you history, in a more "timeless" sense! I think the coolest thing along this route (or near it) is in New Mexico -- detour south from I-40 to Lincoln, site of the Lincoln County War -- which made Billy the Kid famous in the 1870s and 80s. Also, you could divert north in Arizona on US191 and see the Hubbell (Navajo) Trading Post at Ganado.

Then, use I-40 all the way to North Carolina, and take I-26 south to Charleston.

I'm not as familiar with the eastern portions of I-40 (as far as attractions are concerned); perhaps another poster will have some additional ideas.

[Kevin Smith]

I might take this advise as well. I am too planning a SC to CA road trip before I go to grad school. I would like to take different routes each way.

[Kevin Smith]

I might take this advise as well. I am too planning a SC to CA road trip before I go to grad school. I would like to take different routes each way.

[Kevin Smith]

I might take this advise as well. I am too planning a SC to CA road trip before I go to grad school. I would like to take different routes each way.

[Heather Gifford]

I don't know Gina, I-40 is a GREAT route (been there, done that), but just remember, half of it is under snow in late December...how do you feel about driving a stick in snow?